Covering 2,000 miles and crossing nine states, authors and National Geographic Adventurers of the Year Amy and Dave Freeman are biking from Ely, Minnesota, to Washington, D.C. this spring to promote their new book, A Year in the Wilderness, and continue their efforts to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of our country’s most precious and expansive Wilderness areas.

The Freemans are towing a canoe behind their bikes, which will serve as a reminder of the wilderness they have pledged to protect, and they are coming to Holliday Park! Come hear them speak May 26, 3:30 p.m., at Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mille Road. Download a PDF file with more information or visit their web site.

We hope to reschedule the Annual Downtown White River Cleanup for this fall.This is the 30th anniversary of a downtown event that has removed nearly two million pounds of litter, trash and illegally dumped debris all along the river’s bank.

Our plan still will be that volunteers work between Washington and Raymond streets from 8 a.m. to noon. All who join in that day will be rewarded with a pizza lunch.

It’s a way you can make a difference at a family friendly event. Can’t join in the work that day? How about making a “birthday gift” on behalf of the river cleanup that has led to multiple ongoing efforts on behalf of White River?

We are especially pleased this year to have been selected as a 2017 Cleanup Champion by American Rivers. Woo-hoo! Let’s keep up the good work!